2025 ICD-10-CM code G47.411
(Valid) Effective Date: N/A Diseases of the nervous system - Narcolepsy with cataplexy 6 Feed
Narcolepsy with cataplexy. This condition is a sleep disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness and sudden muscle weakness triggered by strong emotions.
Medical necessity for treatment of narcolepsy with cataplexy is established by the documented impact of the condition on the patient's daily functioning, including their ability to work, attend school, and engage in social activities. The severity of EDS and cataplexy should be clearly documented, along with any associated symptoms that further impair the patient's quality of life.
Diagnosis of narcolepsy with cataplexy typically involves a thorough clinical evaluation, including a detailed sleep history, physical examination, and possibly sleep studies (polysomnogram and multiple sleep latency test) to assess sleep patterns and rule out other sleep disorders. Management often involves lifestyle modifications (e.g., regular sleep schedule, naps) and medications (e.g., stimulants, antidepressants, sodium oxybate) to improve wakefulness and control cataplexy.
In simple words: Narcolepsy with cataplexy is a sleep disorder that makes you very sleepy during the day. You may suddenly feel weak or even collapse when you have strong emotions like laughing or being surprised. This weakness is called cataplexy.You might also have trouble sleeping at night and experience vivid dreams or hallucinations as you are falling asleep or waking up. Sometimes, you might feel like you can't move or speak when you're falling asleep or waking up.
Narcolepsy with cataplexy is a chronic neurological sleep disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) along with cataplexy, which is a sudden and temporary loss of muscle tone.EDS can manifest as an overwhelming urge to sleep at inappropriate times, often multiple times a day. Cataplexy, a hallmark symptom of this type of narcolepsy, is often triggered by strong emotions such as laughter, excitement, or anger. The loss of muscle tone can range from slight weakness (e.g., buckling knees, drooping eyelids) to complete body collapse.Other common symptoms include sleep paralysis (temporary inability to move or speak while falling asleep or waking up), hypnagogic hallucinations (vivid, dream-like experiences that occur while falling asleep), and disturbed nighttime sleep. The underlying mechanism often involves a deficiency of hypocretin, a neurotransmitter that regulates wakefulness.
Example 1: A 25-year-old patient presents with excessive daytime sleepiness, frequently falling asleep at work and during social gatherings.They also report sudden episodes of muscle weakness triggered by laughter, resulting in buckling knees and slurred speech.After a sleep study and hypocretin testing, they are diagnosed with narcolepsy with cataplexy., A teenager experiences several episodes of collapsing to the floor during gym class, seemingly without warning. They also report frequent daytime sleepiness and difficulty staying awake in school.A diagnosis of narcolepsy with cataplexy is suspected, and further evaluation is recommended., A 30-year-old individual experiences sleep paralysis and hypnagogic hallucinations almost nightly. They also have excessive daytime sleepiness. While they have not experienced full cataplectic attacks, they report episodes of knee buckling and head dropping when laughing. Further investigation for narcolepsy with cataplexy is indicated.
Documentation should include detailed descriptions of the patient's symptoms (e.g., frequency and severity of EDS, triggers and characteristics of cataplexy, presence of other sleep-related symptoms), results of sleep studies (polysomnogram, multiple sleep latency test), and any other relevant medical history or diagnostic testing (e.g., hypocretin levels).
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- Specialties:Sleep medicine, neurology, psychiatry
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